Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Pouring it on
California winds diminish; some residents OK’d to go home
A helicopter dumps water on a wildfire Sunday in Oakville in California’s Napa Valley. Fire officials said Sunday that, thanks to weakening winds, great progress had been made against wildfires that have devastated the state’s wine country and other regions. The danger was not over, but thousands of people were allowed to return home.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — With the winds dying down, fire officials said Sunday that they have apparently “turned a corner” against the wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home.
While the danger from the deadliest, most destructive cluster of blazes in California history was far from over, the smoky skies started to clear in some places.
“A week ago, this started as a nightmare, and the day we dreamed of has arrived,” Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos said.
People were being allowed to go back home in areas no longer in harm’s way, and the number of those under evacuation orders was down to 75,000 from nearly 100,000 the day before.
Fire crews were able to gain ground because the winds that had fanned the flames did not kick up overnight as much as feared.
“Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago, and that is definitely a very good sign,” said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, who noted that some of the fires were 50 percent or more contained. “It’s probably a sign we’ve turned a corner on these fires.”
The blazes were blamed for at least 40 deaths and destroyed some 5,700 homes and other structures. The death toll could climb as searchers dig through the ruins for people listed as missing. Hundreds were unaccounted for, though authorities said many of them are probably safe but haven’t let anyone know.
In hard-hit Sonoma County, Sheriff Rob Giordano said authorities have located 1,560 of the more than 1,700 once listed as missing. Many of those names were put on the list after people called from out of state to say they couldn’t reach a friend or relative.
Sonoma County officials said they will not let people return home until it is safe and utilities are restored. Crews have been working around the clock to connect water and power, in some cases putting up new poles next to smoldering trees, the sheriff said.
Many evacuees grew increasingly impatient to go home — or at least find out whether their homes were spared. Others were reluctant to go back or to look for another place to live.
Juan Hernandez, who escaped with his family from his apartment last Monday before it burned down, still had his car packed and ready to go in case the fires flared up again and threatened his sister’s house in Santa Rosa, where they have been staying.
“Every day we keep hearing sirens at night, alarms,” Hernandez said. “We’re scared. When you see the fire close to your house, you’re scared.”
In Mendocino County, 70 miles north of wine country, some residents feel ignored as they deal with their own catastrophic wildfires.
“We have been hit just as hard as anyone,” said Sonya Campbell, who lost her house to the fires. “I don’t get why we aren’t getting any attention.”
Thousands were evacuated, and hundreds lost their homes. Eight have died there, including 14-year-old Kai Shepherd, whose parents and sister suffered severe burns.
Among the most ravaged communities is Redwood Valley, a tight-knit town nestled along the Russian River in Mendocino County. It is home to multiple-acre lots of horse owners, goat farmers and folks seeking the quiet life. Many identify as “redneck hippies.”
Some people took note that Sonoma and Napa counties have received the lion’s share of attention.
“I’m so tired of hearing about the wineries,” said James Younger, who fled his Redwood Valley home last Monday morning. “There was a sense that no one cared about us. But that’s OK. We’re self-reliant.”
Chuck Bartelson lost his home of 20 years.
“What can you do?” he asked rhetorically. He said he wasn’t bothered by the attention Sonoma and Napa counties were receiving.
“I realize that there was devastation there, too,” he said.
In all, some 7,000 residents in Mendocino County and nearby Lake County have been evacuated.
Nearly 11,000 firefighters were still battling 15 fires burning across a 100-mile swath of the state.